Officer Jay Sturdivant, one of the 49th Precinct’s community affairs officers said he has been hearing anecdotal reports of the trickster. He learned about the latest grift at the May 21 Northeast Bronx Community Association meeting during Police Night.

“He would speak to the victims in Italian and says he know their family members,” recalled Sturdivant. “Once he hooks you, that’s when he gets money from you, stating that his wife is sick in Rome and he needs money for the plane ticket. The victims feel obligated to give.”

There have been several incidents stretching as far back as a year ago.

The fast-talking thief recently ripped off an elderly Tomlinson Avenue man for $300 in exchange for scraggly leather jackets.

Sturdivant has counted four victims so far who have met the man in various locations, including Allerton and Morgan avenues. “There could be more,” he said, noting that some victims may be too embarassed to report it.